Florida entered its rivalry game with Florida State with hopes of making the College Football Playoff if it somehow discovered an offensive spark that it didn’t have over its last three games. The Gators found no such thing in a demoralizing 27-2 loss in front of a record 90,916 in attendance at The Swamp.

What it means: The loss removes any chance for the Gators to make the playoff, but Florida will still play in the SEC Championship Game against Alabama next Saturday. The Crimson Tide clinched its trip to Atlanta with a 29-13 victory over Auburn in the Iron Bowl.

What I liked: Much like Florida did during the majority of the Will Muschamp era, the Gators defense didn’t get discouraged and performed at a high level to at least keep the team in striking range. Everyone will remember the egg that Florida’s offense laid in this one, but for as bad as it was, Florida State only managed 42 more yards. That’s a testament to a UF program that has tremendous pride on that side of the ball.

What I didn’t like: Let’s put it bluntly here. The Gators didn’t have a guy that could throw the ball (Treon Harris). They didn’t have a guy that could snap the ball (substitute center Trip Thurman). They didn’t have a guy that could kick the ball (Austin Hardin). Florida had a chance to take some early momentum by converting an early fourth-and-2 from the Florida State 20-yard line late in the first quarter, and it wasn’t able to come through. Kicker Austin Hardin missed two field goals, missing a 51-yarder badly and getting a 37-yarder blocked after somehow kicking it too low. The Gators had plenty of other chances throughout the game to seize some momentum, and they just never came through.

Who’s the man: RB Kelvin Taylor deserves some credit for being the only pulse that the offense had all game. Taylor finished with 24 carries for 136 yards and continued to run hard throughout the game despite getting his ankle rolled early in the contest. The defense also deserves a ton of credit for keeping it a two-possession game virtually the entire way even though its offense was giving it zero reason to believe it would ever move the ball. Florida’s defense held Florida State’s offense to 304 total yards, its third-lowest output of the season.

Key play(s): A couple key plays in the fourth quarter could’ve totally changed the complexion of the game, but neither of them went the Gators’ way. With about nine minutes left in the game, a CeCe Jefferson sack forced QB Sean Maguire to fumble from FSU’s 16-yard line. After a comical scrum for the ball where neither team could come up with it, the ball wound up in the end zone but Maguire recovered it himself in the end zone, giving up a safety instead of a touchdown that would’ve made it a 13-7 game. Later, a long punt return deep into FSU territory by Valdez showers was negated by a block in the back penalty.

What’s next: Florida takes on Alabama in the SEC Championship Game next Saturday in Atlanta. It’s Florida’s first appearance in the conference title game since losing to the Crimson Tide in 2009. Alabama is on a nine-game win streak since its only loss of the season to Ole Miss on Sept. 19.